She looked surprised, I thought, but what of that?
Don't women like to be surprised?
Don't they like men to be strong, resolute, determined, like heroes in the moving pictures?
Don't they like to see a man handle matters with dash?
I was determined to be dashing.
"We are off to Virginia to-morrow morning," I continued.

"We are going to Fredericksburg and Charlottesville, and into the fox-hunting country.
If we can get back here Saturday night let's have a party." I spoke of the hunting country debonairely.

I did not care what she thought my companion was going to the hunting country for, but I did not wish her to think that I was going only to look on.

On the contrary, I desired her to suppose that I should presently be wearing a pair of beautiful, slim-legged riding boots and a pink coat, and leaping a thoroughbred mount over fences and gates.

I wished her to believe me a wild, reckless, devil of a fellow, and to worry throughout the week lest I be killed in a fall from my horse, and she never see me more--poor girl! That she felt such emotions I have since had reason to doubt.